Bothell street, sidewalk projects to affect traffic, parking

Last week, the city of Bothell sent out a newsletter with an update on several projects funded by the Safe Streets and Sidewalks Levy. Next month, the city will provide more information about upcoming projects and traffic impacts to help residents plan their back to school commutes.

Bothell’s Safe Streets and Sidewalks program kicked off earlier this year, with capital improvement projects ranging from Safe School Walk Routes to pavement preservation projects and other street-related maintenance and repairs, most funded by the nine-year levy. See www.bothellwa.gov/989/Safe-Streets-Sidewalks-Program for more.

Bothell’s first slurry seal project will take place near Frank Love Elementary school. The city anticipates that crews will begin applying the seal on Aug. 10.

Slurry seal — a quarter-inch layer of fine gravel, asphalt, and oil that will protect the pavement from weather and refresh the surface — is an economical and effective way to improve and maintain local roads, according to the city. See www.bothellwa.gov/1383/Slurry-Seal-Work-Schedule for more on the project schedule. Affected residents received notices about parking and access restrictions during this project.

After slurry seal application, the streets will be swept: the day after; one week after; and three weeks after. Street parking is unavailable during street sweeping.

Another project set to begin in mid-August involves pavement overlay at 228th Street, with upcoming roadway resurfacing between 19th Avenue Southeast and 35th Avenue Southeast. The Bothell City Council approved the construction award to Cadman Materials, Inc. on July 17.

Meanwhile, Beardslee Boulevard will be closed to westbound traffic through September, weather permitting, after the overlay paving between Sunrise Drive and Northeast 185th Street began on July 5. The partial reconstruction of the pavement started at the same time.

Other projects include Safe School Walk Routes and non-motorized improvements. Construction was recently completed on a 5-foot wide concrete school walkway at 234th Place Southwest, connecting Meridian Avenue South with Shelton View Elementary School via 234th Place Southwest. This project was identified by the Safe School Walk Routes task force as a high priority, and was funded through the city’s Sidewalk and Crosswalk Program.

Another project at Northeast 188th Street is in the early design phases and is scheduled to begin construction next summer. It proposes a connective pedestrian route from Bothell High School to Bothell Way Northeast via Northeast 188th Street. It is also part of the Safe School Walk Routes, and will make it easier for students walking or biking to school. Design plans to implement improvements for pedestrians and bicycles along 19th Avenue Northeast, 232nd Street Southeast and 23rd Avenue Southeast are near completion.